South Africa has reclaimed the number-one Test position on the Reliance ICC Test Team Championship after holding Sri Lanka to a draw in the second Test in Colombo on Monday. The result has given the Proteas a 1-0 series win.
South Africa had entered the two-Test series against Sri Lanka on equal points with Australia (123 ratings points). However, Hashim Amla’s side was ranked below Australia when ratings were calculated beyond the decimal point.
The 1-0 series win has now put South Africa ahead of Australia on 124 ratings points and has also allowed it to regain the position it had surrendered to Michael Clarke’s side on 1 May following the annual Test update.
South Africa will now play Zimbabwe in a one-off Test in Harare on 9 August. But when Australia travels to the Sheikhdom in October to play Pakistan in the two-Test series, it will be committed to getting back on top of the tree. And to make it happen, it will have to win the series, be it by a 1-0 or 2-0 margin.
Reliance ICC Test Team Rankings table (as on 28 July, after the conclusion of Sri Lanka-South Africa series)
Rank Team Rating
1 South Africa 124
2 Australia 123
3 Pakistan 103
4 India 102
5 England 100
6 Sri Lanka 95
7 New Zealand 93
8 West Indies 74
9 Zimbabwe 40
10 Bangladesh 21